Page 33 of The Dating Game

In my opinion that’s a pretty low bar.

“Hello again,” a male voice says, pulling me from my retrospections. I turn my head to see Johnny, the guy who hit on me in the clubhouse, pulling up next to me in a golf cart, a wide smile on his face, a beer can in one hand. Unease coils inside me. There’s just something about this guy that makes me uncomfortable.

“Um, hi,” I say, glancing around to see if I can spot Will, but he’s out of sight. For obvious reasons.

“Have you seen a golf ball around here?” he asks, letting out a rueful laugh as he shoves his can into a cup holder. “I really shanked it off the last tee.”

“Uh, no.” I glance around at the fairway; empty except for my ball.

“Too bad. It was my lucky ball.”

“Not so lucky if you shanked it.”

“Or maybe extra lucky, since it brought me back to you.” He hops out of his cart, and steps toward me, swaying a little.

Where is Will?

“Where’s that guy you mentioned back at the clubhouse?” he asks, looking around. “Surely he didn’t leave you out here allalone.”

I do not like the way he emphasizes the word alone. Not one bit. Or the fact that he is definitely buzzed, if not drunk. Dread trickles down my spine.You’re on a golf course, I tell myself.There are other people around…somewhere semi-close by anyway. Besides, Will is going to be back any minute.How long does it take to pee?

“Unless you made him up to get rid of me,” he adds, with a humorless laugh, his easy manner vanishing in a blink. “Surely not, though. Surely you didn’t put my business card in the free lunch drawing like one of my buddies said you did.” His face hardens. “Real laugh they all got out of that—at my expense.”

“I’m sorry,” I say quickly, even though I’ve never been less sorry about anything. This guy is exactly the kind of man I would never go out with. “It wasn’t personal. I’m just already seeing someone. I didn’t want him to find that card and think anything.”

He stops his approach and stares at me. “Here’s the thing,” he says, tapping his chin, “I don’t believe you.”

“Um, okay. Well, it’s the truth.”

“Nah,” he dismisses me with a wild wave of his hand. “I think you think you’re too good for me and that’s why you threw it away.”

“I don’t think that.” I take a few steps backwards as he starts toward me again. “Look, I hate to be rude, but you’re making me uncomfortable.” I suck in a fortifying breath. “So, I’d like you to leave.”

“Aww, c’mon, don’t be like that. I’m not going to hurt you.” He quickens his step, grabbing for my arm. This close I can smell the beer on his breath. “Let’s just talk.”

“She asked you to go,” Will’s hard voice slices through the air, and a second later Johnny is being shoved away from me. Will plants himself between the two of us, poised and ready for any counterattack onJohnny’s part. But just the shove sent Johnny stumbling to the ground. He scrambles for a second before managing to get back on his feet; spewing curse words in our direction.

“That’s enough. There is a lady present.” Again Will’s voice is hard, holding a tightly-wound threat ready to be released at any point. I don’t know when I even moved, but I’m right behind him now, and I swear I can feel the anger rolling off of him as I peer over his shoulder at Johnny.

Johnny lunges at him, but he’s drunk and also no match for Will in size or stature. Will easily catches him and flips him on his back.

“She asked you to leave,” he says stonily to Johnny, standing over him. “And now I’mtellingyou to leave.”

Johnny groans, rolling over on his side before getting to his feet and shuffling back to his cart. “Stuck up, little priss,” he mutters, before driving off.

As soon as he’s gone, Will whirls around to look at me. “Are you okay?” he asks, scanning me from head to toe. “Did he hurt you?” His hand catches around my wrist where Johnny grabbed me, and lifts it to examine it more closely. His touch is tender and sweet, and I have to fight the urge to melt into him completely.

Nothing really happened, and yet the threat of what could have looms over me, making my body shake. A low rumble bursts out of Will and then he drops my wrist and pulls me ever so gently against him, wrapping me in a hug so secure I want to stay in it forever so nothing can ever break me.

I don’t know how long we stay that way, but it’s long enough for the foursome behind us to catch up. The sound of someone shouting, “Fore!” is what finally yanks us apart.

“I’m sorry,” I say automatically, embarrassment rearing its ugly head over mydisplay.

“Sorry?” Will looks confused. “Sorry for what?”

“I don’t know.” I blush. “Losing it all over you, messing up our golf game, my poor wrist extension.” I attempt a laugh, but it falls flat.

Will sighs, then scrubs a hand over his face. “Nah, your wrist extension is fine. I should’ve just let you play.” His hand drops, and I’m struck by the indecision in his eyes. He seems torn. But I haven’t the faintest idea what about.

---